"He is a loss to us and public life.”
Zia Yusuf has stepped down as chair of Reform UK after criticising his party’s call to ban the burqa.
He described the move as “dumb” in a social media post, just hours before resigning from his role.
The resignation follows comments from new MP Sarah Pochin, who asked the Prime Minister in Parliament if he would ban the burqa.
Zia Yusuf had led the party’s operations for less than a year.
On X, he wrote: “I’ve worked full-time as a volunteer to take the party from 14 to 30%, quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral results.
“I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.”
His exit is a blow to Farage, who is trying to expand and professionalise Reform’s operation ahead of the next general election.
Critics say Yusuf’s resignation shows Farage cannot work with senior colleagues without falling out.
The Reform leader responded: “I’m genuinely sorry that Zia Yusuf has decided to stand down as Reform UK chairman.
“He was a huge factor in our success on May 1 and is an enormously talented person.
“Politics can be a highly pressured and difficult game and Zia has clearly had enough. He is a loss to us and public life.”
Farage revealed he was only given 10 minutes’ notice of Yusuf’s decision.
He praised Yusuf’s organisational skills but said his background in finance had made political leadership more difficult.
Farage said: “I think, in terms of dealing with staff, there was a bit of a Goldman Sachs-type mentality.
“Politics isn’t just about creating a financial bottom line, it’s about doing things that are thoughtful, creative and different.
“So were his interpersonal skills at the top of his list of attributes? No. But I always found, with me, he was very polite, very objective in conversations that I had.”
Nigel Farage recently defended Zia Yusuf’s presence in Reform UK during a press conference in Aberdeen.
Some Reform members had previously turned against Yusuf over the suspension of MP Rupert Lowe. Yusuf clashed with Lowe earlier in 2025. Police investigated alleged threats against Yusuf, but no charges were filed.
Farage later said he would “rather eat razor blades” than allow Lowe back into the party.
Reform UK’s internal turmoil comes at a sensitive moment, as it looks to challenge the SNP and Labour in the Hamilton by-election in Scotland.
Zia Yusuf is widely credited with bringing a more corporate structure to Reform. He hired staff, expanded the membership base, and oversaw strategy.
But his style also alienated parts of the old guard. Arron Banks, the Brexit donor and Reform’s mayoral candidate, said Yusuf “struggled with relationships and people”.
He added: “The corks will be popping in party HQ this evening. Reform will power on.”
Until recently, Yusuf was still outlining Reform’s economic plans, including proposals to cut public spending by up to £400 billion and to boost the birthrate by encouraging “fertile” British women to have more children.
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